Rwandan President Paul Kagame has called on African leaders to coordinate among each other to successfully address security problems. By Ismail Akwei

He said failure to coordinate internally has allowed insecurity to flourish in the continent.

“Insecurity takes many forms, from security to uncontrolled migration to divisive politics. Whatever the challenge is, we can successfully address it by working together. This means coordinating among ourselves as Africans,” he said on Monday at the 4th edition of the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security in Africa in Senegal.

“If we allow others to define our problems and take responsibility for solving them, we have ourselves to blame. A major pillar of institutional reform of the AU is a more focused and assertive Africa,” he told the participants in Dakar.

If we allow others to define our problems and take responsibility for solving them, we have ourselves to blame. A major pillar of institutional reform of the AU is a more focused and assertive Africa.He was quick to add that the unity of Africa does not mean shunning the importance of “productive collaboration with external partners”.

“We must take responsibility for ourselves, which doesn’t include partners but they add to our efforts. We must take full responsibility in defining our problems and financing efforts. Working together is key,” he said.

Kagame also stressed the need to go beyond a military approach to solve insecurity in Africa. “It is important to talk about integrated solutions, security & development and governance as well.”